MEC Alan Winde puts Western Cape on the map at Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai
MEC Alan Winde today, 31 March 2015 participated in a plenary session focused on global events at the Annual Investment Meeting currently underway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The theme of the session was entitled "Global Events: an unparalleled collaboration platform for technology and best practice sharing."
MEC Winde focused his address on how conferences centred around specific themes create an ecosystem that attracts foreign direct investment. It further provides opportunities for outward trade and investment by local companies.
He cited as evidence the growing reputation of the Western Cape in medical technology and innovation, driven in part by the vast number of medical conferences and events which take place in our region. This serves to draw experts to the province, making it a centre of research and development excellence.
Due to global demand from international companies wanting to operate out of the Western Cape, the provincial government has embarked on a project to build a health technology park, a cluster for health innovation, research and manufacturing.
"Our reputation as a global centre of excellence in health care innovation and technology has also paved the way for outward investment by South African companies such as Medi-Clinic, which now runs facilities in international destinations such as the United Arab Emirates," said MEC Winde.
MEC Winde concluded the plenary by stating that global conferences have the potential to drive regional brands, and that the Western Cape has succeeded in developing a strong brand around medical innovation and technology which we must work to maximize.
"Key to doing this is expanding our ability to host more and bigger global conferences around this theme, a goal which will become possible through the expansion of the Cape Town Convention Centre, a project currently underway," MEC Winde added.
